Blog @ AlfredFox.com

I haven't had the opportunity to devote time to making more templates for a while. I have had some ideas for new templates and have been excited to see them in action. Here are the results of one of them! I wanted to try something I've not really explored much and am fairly pleased with the results.

Feel free to use the templates in whatever setting you would like. They are completely free in every sense. You can add / remove to them as you wish. I only ask that as long as it resembles the template you started with that you leave my link at the bottom.

I'd like to know what you think about the new templates. Enjoy!

If you would like to download one or more of these templates CLICK HERE

I've found that many of my clients aren't really sure what to expect from a website designer. It can be difficult to say for sure as many designers offer their services to varying degrees. A quote from one designer may or may not include the same services as a quote from another designer. I've made it a policy to, from the outset, explain in detail the services I offer and do not offer so there is no confusion. Here's a list of things you should know about your designer to avoid any improper expectations.



1. Logo / Branding

Are you in need of custom logo and branding services? Is your designer including this in their quote? Do you need business cards, fliers, or brochures created and printed? Having a website built can be the start of an entire business plan or it can be an extension of an existing business model. If you do not already have a corporate identity it may be necessary to seek those services elsewhere depending on what your designer offers.



2. Content and Content Writing

Are you in need of content writing services? I personally do not write content for the websites I build. While many website designers do, you should always make sure who is going to be providing the content. My rule of thumb is simple: It is your (the client's) industry. You are the one best suited to write your content. Also the issue of images. Do you need your designer to provide the images or do you have images you wish to place on your website? On a side note: There are many resources to obtain quality, royalty-free images for use with your website. link



3. Custom Scripting / Programming

Are you in need of custom scripting or database work? Check with your designer if this is a service they offer. Many designers are multi faceted while others are very centered on the services they do offer. It is important to check with your potential designers as they may need to outsource this work and revise their quote.



4. E-Commerce / Online Stores

It is a common practice for most designers to provide an online store or e-commerce solution. The questions though are: To what extent do these services run? Will you be required to operate and input the products for your store? Is there written documentation or training that you will receive in order to learn about the ins and outs of your e-commerce solution? Is there an added fee for use of the store software (setup or monthly)? What is the store software going to be capable of? Will it fully meet your needs and expectations? Check with your potential designer and make sure that your e-commerce solution is just that: A Solution.



5. Search Engine Optimization / Marketing

Is your designer going to take care of your marketing and search engine optimization needs? It is common knowledge that just because you build it doesn't mean they will come. This is especially true with website design. The internet is a big place growing exponentially each year. It can be a real challenge to make your website stand out. Does your designer offer these services? If not, are they able to assist and point you in the right direction? Because SEO and Marketing are not a one time service; are there monthly or yearly fees associated with these services? As a designer I try to explain to my clients what they should expect in terms of traffic and success with their website. There are many different forms of marketing and SEO, make sure that you choose whats best for you. Your designer can most likely either provide the service or help you find someone who does.



6. Time Frame

What is your designer's time frame for your project? Are you in need of an expedited service? Discuss clearly with your designer to ensure you are both on the same page. A time frame estimation can vary greatly based on a number of factors. Is your designer able to reach you for questions or added details / clarity? Are you able to reach your designer? Does your designer have all of the information they need to complete your project? Is any of this work being outsourced which can cause added delays? Be sure to let your designer know what your goals are and what you expect. It does wonders to clear up any misconceptions right from the start.



7. Revisions and Changes

What are your designers stipulations on revisions and changes throughout the design process? Does your designer have a set limit of revisions they will make on your design during the construction? This is a really important thing to ask your designer as they may or may not place limits on the amount of changes they initially make. It goes two ways: If you as the customer are not quite sure what you are looking for and are adding to the workload of the designer by requesting many changes it would be prudent for your designer to work out a pricing system that is fair for both parties. If your designer is simply not hitting the mark with their attempts it may not be appropriate for additional fees to be imparted. Speak with your designer about this and make sure you are both on the same page.



8. Other Services

Discuss your needs and goals with your designer and make a list of the things you require to complete this project. It is important to make sure your designer has a clear idea of what you are looking for to properly give you a quote. Some services you require may not fall under the scope of what your designer provides, it is important to define these and take the steps needed to ensure your goals are brought to fruition. Your designer will no doubt have a list of companies or individuals that provide the services he / she may not offer. Check with your designer to see if they are able to help you obtain these other services you may need. This may save you the hassle of finding a reputable source that will perform the services you need.



9. Maintenance And Upkeep

A very important part of your website is maintenance and upkeep. Depending on your needs you may need to edit your website frequently while others may not. Does your designer provide a means for you to make changes or update requests to your website? Do they have a means to allow you to edit your own web pages? If you are planning on taking care of changes and maintenance your self, is your designer going to build your website in a fashion that you can easily update? Many designers, myself included, offer a monthly maintenance package to fill this need. Check with your designer to make sure their solution is something that works for you and your budget.



10. Communication

I mention communication as it is something that I feel is important in website design. Your designer is tasked with taking your ideas and converting them into a website that will not only please you but that will fill your needs properly. Make sure you are able to clearly communicate with your designer on all fronts as this will avoid any future headaches and ensure that both parties have proper expectations. Feel free to speak with your designer often as this will help you and your designer achieve your goals. If you have concerns or reservations about your designer, it may be a good idea to look elsewhere for the services you need. It is very important that you work well together so that everything goes smoothly.



These are all directed at those in search of website design services. On the part of the designer it is equally important to assist your clients in achieving their website design goals. Website Designers will generally have more experience and a clearer understanding of what is required to build a complete website solution. You should expect any potential designer to freely discuss with you what is required and expected when having a website built.

I wanted to take a moment and review a new website that has HUGE potential. Listomi.com. Listomi is a start-up that has taken user generated content to a new level. The ambitious title: "Cataloging the Universe", is exactly what this website is about. Think of a Wikipedia for lists. Lists of EVERYTHING!

It's amazing how beneficial this website has and will become. I didn't realize how valuable having a central repository for lists of everything could be. There are very few websites who are ambitious enough to take on such a task. Out of the very few that have tried none are growing as rapidly as Listomi.

• Currently Listomi offers the following features:


• Free accounts to anyone who wishes to contribute


• Create an infinite amount of lists


• Modify existing lists that you've created


• Stats for each list on Listomi (Records, Views, Creator, etc)


• Browse by list or categories


• Search all lists and categories


• "Share this list with a friend" feature


• Bookmark and Share popular lists via Digg, Technorati, del.icio.us, and others


• Contact any creator of a list for questions or revisions simply


• Much more

The Listomi developers are always adding new features and respond to any inquiries very quickly. If you have questions or suggestions or would simply like to extend your appreciation for this new services feel free to drop them a line and let them know.

I encourage everyone to sign up and participate as this is a great service that needs everyone's help to grow. It's a great idea that's worthy of the little bit of time it takes to contribute.

Here's some screenshots of Listomi's sleek Web 2.0 interface.

The Estetica Graphic Design and Web Design Forum which opened at the start of 2008 is offering Graphic Design and Web Design blogs to add their live RSS feeds to the Graphic Design Blog section. This means when you post on your blog it automatically posts it as a forum post with a link back to your blog meaning if the post is interesting enough, traffic will be driven towards your blog.

To add your Feed, sign up at the forum and use the contact form to tell the admin team why you feel your blog would be of interest to the readers. This is a great way to boost readers on your blog and also be part of a growing Graphic Design & Web Design Community.

As well as the forum the team have also launched a Social Bookmarking and Voting system for Designers using Pligg called Graphic Design Links.

This also has the ability to add your RSS feeds from your blog to automatically add your blog post link to the sections for people to comment and vote on and is also a free link back to your blog. To add your feed here contact the forum admin as above.

** If you have not read Part I of this story, please do so, It'll make much more sense.

On 9/20/2007 I posted about an experiment I'd been conducting to boost my search engine ranking for the key words I was aiming for. Freelance Website Design and Website Design... At the time of this post, I am currently #4 on Google for 'Freelance Website Design' and #36 on Google for 'Website Design'. A very unexpected bi product of my experiment was an increase in page rank. This may not be completely unexpected, but I was more than surprised. While I was receiving commendation from Google, others were being punished for things that didn't seem to be in violation ofGoogle's Policies.

Even Higher Ranking, and What? A Boost in PR?

I am now a PR4. My website, as it is now, is approximately 6 months old (I've had other things up here, but only for private use in the past). Here is an update as to what I've been up to in the last two months. Once again, if you have not yet read Part I of this, it probably won't make much sense. So for the last two months I've done nothing. I've not had any time to even read blogs let alone post comments in them. I've been inundated with work and life. Also, as before, I've taken a strict, noSEO policy to my ranking approaches. Surprisingly, despite two months of inactivity, my PR has jumped 3 points and I've acquired an even higher position for my sought after key phrase 'Website Design'.

What Was Expected

Ever since the beginning of this I've been wondering whether this would be effective or not for several reasons. The main being that many blogs seem to have no-follow on their comment links / names, and also the fact that people may simply delete my comment regardless of how absolutely not spam it is simply because I use a key word instead of my actual name. So far, here are the results...

Definitely Not Comment Spamming!

Being that my rank is still climbing and holding steady as well as the fact that I've gained more PR, I would have to think that blog owners realize how benign people using keywords for names really is. No matter what you think or how you look at it, a spam post is a spam post. No ifs ands or buts. However, simply using a keyword in your name instead of your actual name does not constitute a spam post, as your post is still just as valuable as the person ahead or behind you. Besides,spammers are the cancer of the Internet, and are very easily spotted. Oh hey guys, you want to buy some Cialis ? Viagra perhaps? Seriously, any one who thinks swapping out your name for a keyword on a comment we were already going to leave is the same as spam needs to recheck their spam folders and seriously rethink which is actually harmful and a pain in the arse.

No-Follow, Google, and Wordpress

I've not looked into how many of the blogs I've left comments in are in fact no-follow, nor do I really care. My guess is, with these numbers, that most blogs are either not no-follow, or that Google has been pulling a leg or two with what they've stated regarding No-Follow links. My guess, however, is the first. My guess is most people do not care whether their links are no follow or not. Mine aren't as I do not have a problem with people leaving an insightful comment, and getting a free link back out of the deal. I'm simply thrilled that people stop by and read what I've written.

Conclusion

There are still many ways to increase ranking, do SEO, and boost your traffic without spending money. The Blogosphere is a great community that provides numerous opportunities to meet others, share ideas, learn, and now increase your traffic, yes, even without Blog Rush. I for one am happy to be apart of it, regardless of how small my role actually is.

As always, thanks for reading. I've been on hiatus lately due to work and such, but I'm going to try to step it up. (For my small handful of subscribers :) )